APPENDIX NO. II. 
309 
The course of this channel at its southern opening was traced, by 
actual survey, in a long horseshoe curve, sharply defined against the 
solid ice of Smith's Sound, and terminating at its extremes against 
two noble headlands about forty miles apart. The western coast was 
followed, in subsequent explorations, to a mural face of nine hundred 
feet elevation, preserving throughout its iceless character. Here a 
heavy surf, beating directly against the rocks, checked our future 
progress. 
This precipitous headland, the farthest point attained by the party, 
was named Cape Independence. It is in latitude 81° 22' N. and 
longitude 65° 35' W. It was only touched by William Morton, who 
left the dogs and made his way to it along the coast. From it the 
western coast was, seen stretching far toward the north, with an iceless 
horizon, and a heavy swell rolling in with white caps. At a height 
of about five hundred feet above the sea this great expanse still 
presented all the appearance of an open and iceless sea. In claiming 
for it this character I have reference only to the facts actually ob¬ 
served, without seeking confirmation or support from any deduction 
of theory. Among such facts are the following:— 
1. It was approached by a channel entirely free from ice, having 
a length of fifty-two and a mean width of thirty-six geographical 
miles. 
2. The coast-ice along the water-line of this channel had been com¬ 
pletely destroyed by thaw and water-action; while an unbroken belt of 
solid ice, one hundred and twenty-five miles in diameter, extended to 
the south. 
3. A gale from the northeast, of fifty-four hours’ duration, brought 
a heavy sea from that quarter, without disclosing any drift or other 
ice. 
4. Hark nimbus clouds and water-sky invested the northeastern 
horizon. 
5. Crowds of migratory birds were observed thronging its waters. 
Two islands on the threshold of this sea, the most northern islands 
known, bear the names of Sir John Franklin and his associate, Cap¬ 
tain Qrozier, the leaders of the gallant party for which we had been in 
search. 
To the northwest the coasts became mountainous, rising in trun¬ 
cated cones, like the Magdalena Cliffs of Spitzbergen. The farthest 
distinctly-sighted point was a lofty mountain, bearing N. 5° E., 
(solar;) its latitude, by estimate and intersection, was E. 2° 30'. Its 
longitude, as thus determined, would give 06° W., (approximative.) 
